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When to Plant Peppers in Beauregard Parish, LA

Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a May

Top priorities for Beauregard Parish, Louisiana gardeners in May

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Beauregard Parish, Louisiana this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost March 7
Avg. first frost November 16
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for peppers

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: peppers

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Sweet peppers are warm-season crops producing fruits in a rainbow of colors. They turn from green to red, yellow, or orange as they ripen, increasing in sweetness.

Beauregard Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 7 and the first fall frost is November 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 254 days.

At an elevation of 206 feet, Beauregard Parish receives approximately 49.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Peppers will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Beauregard Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Long season
254 days
Last Spring Frost March 7
254 growing days
First Fall Frost November 16
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Beauregard Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 16 Transplant: Mar 6 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jul 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 24 Transplant: Mar 14 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 24

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Beauregard Parish

How your county's soil matches Peppers's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.8–6.2) is more acidic than Peppers prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Beauregard Parish warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Peppers will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Peppers.

How to Plant Peppers

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Peppers

5
successive plantings in your 254-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 773 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Peppers

Peppers needs approximately 1.1 inches of water per week (4.8" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Peppers Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.8" 4.2" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.8" 3.4" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.8" 4.2" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.8" 4" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.8" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.8" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 4.4" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.8" 3.3" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.8" 3.9" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Beauregard Parish). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Peppers Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Peppers needs ~1,369 GDD — county provides 4,635 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline — Beauregard Parish, LA

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 24 Jan 24 – Feb 7
Transplant Outdoors March 14 Mar 14 – Mar 28
Direct Sow March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 28
Harvest May 16 May 16 – Jul 25

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

254 days in Beauregard Parish

Growing Tips for Peppers in Beauregard Parish

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after March 07 in Beauregard Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Beauregard Parish dries quickly — mulch Peppers with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Common pests for Peppers in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant when nighttime temperatures stay above 55F. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote leaves over fruit.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Peppers Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Remove seeds from fully ripe (red/orange) fruit.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 300 ft for purity. Hot and sweet peppers can cross-pollinate.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peppers in Beauregard Parish, LA?

Beauregard Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 7. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Beauregard Parish, LA?

Beauregard Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 7 and first fall frost is November 16.

🌱

Your Beauregard Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Beauregard Parish (Zone 9a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Beauregard Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.